When launched last fall, dozens routinely attended monthly Hemp Talks meetings in Cortez. At its most recent gathering, less than a handful was present.
Sharon Stewart, a Cortez businesswoman with no farming experience, spearheaded Hemp Talks in an effort to to promote hemp as a viable alternative crop. She said she suspects the drop in attendance at monthly Hemp Talks meetings could be attributed to a number of issues: The group suspended its meetings over the summer, farmers continue to be busy harvesting crops, and a lack of seed supply in the spring alienated local interest.
To renew attention, the local hemp advocacy group plans to prescreen “Bringing It Home,” a 52-minute documentary about industrial hemp, at its December meeting. The viewing will precede a larger tri-county film revue being planned across Montezuma, Dolores and LaPlata counties in January.
“Bringing It Home” tells the story of hemp’s past, present and future through interviews with industry leaders from around the globe.
Stewart said the documentary at times focused on a global perspective. In order to make it more relevant to the issues faced closer to home, Stewart envisions incorporating the screenings with discussions by area farmers.
“We want to include talks about local water costs, for example, and other critical components to make hemp successful here,” said Stewart.
From seed to harvest, hemp can be produced in just more than 100 days, but obtaining seed in Montezuma County was nearly impossible for two local farmers approved to grow research test plots this year. Hemp remains classified by the federal government as a controlled substance along with heroin and cocaine.
“In reality, something has to happen at the state level to encourage the federal government to lift its ban on hemp,” said Stewart. “As of now, we don’t have anyone at the state level speaking for us.”
Hemp products include nutritional foods, biofuels, clothing and building materials. The U.S. market for industrial hemp fiber and seed products is $400 million annually.
Genetically similar to marijuana, hemp grown in Colorado must contain less than 0.3 percent of the psychoactive chemical in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Recreational and medical marijuana strains contain 15 percent or more THC.
The next Hemp Talks meeting, which includes the prescreening of “Bringing It Home,” is set for 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7. The group meets at the Cortez Welcome Center.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com